The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-10-29

letters of Colum bus are infinitely more at
tractive 10 the reader OF today. The De
voutly religious spirit Of the writer, his
miugling Of practical shrewdness with
child-like credulity, his artless relations
of the dreams and visions which induced
him 10 set out on his discoveries his enthu
sias,ic belief In being divinely appointed
20 his work, his arguments 10 prove that he
had landed near the Garden If Eden, ex
pressed In that simplicity of style which Is
the chief grace Of the early vuyagers, all
t,gether torn charm for us that superior
learning and more correct rhetoric cannot
rival. But NJ the time when Columbus
wrote we can believe that Ncspuccis letters
would m,re readily attract attention. The
latter wrote clear and succincf account ol
what he saw, OF all he could learn of the
manners and customs OF the natives; ne
drew pictorial illustrations and diagrams;
he used some bits of scholarship eHec,
lively; he quoted Aristotle and Pliny, ana
the immortal Dante. In fact, Vespdccis
letters are more like those OF travelling
journalist who Is sent ont by daily paper
or current magazine, 10 get the latest ana
best news snd put the narrative In popular
form; Columbus writes like the man OF
imagination and poetic vision, the true dis
cover and seer, who Is recognized by the
future, rarely be the present.
The Novemb Der PopuLar Science Nonhiy
is now ready Among the more valuable
papers are the 9Th part Of David A. Wells's
Economic Disturbances since 1873, Agassiz
and Evolution, Spaciaiz .'ion of Science,
Science and Revelation, Astronomy with
an Opera Glass-The Stars of Autumn,
Geikie on the Teaching of Geography, A
Kitchen College, The Unhealthfulness OF
Easements, and others.
Scr,Jnr', Magaz,ne for November has for
il, leading article an interesting paper by
william F. Apthorp, the musical critic OF
the Boston Transcript on Wagner and
Scenic Art" defining the influence Of the
great composer on all details of stage. man
agement and Suggesting, and intelligently
explains his many devices for securing
elaborate scenic effects The significant feat
ures are illustrated from the original de-
signs, by j. Hoffman, the Bruckner brothers,
and Joukovsky, for the setting of the Bay
reuth stage. Prof. Sargent Of Harvard Uni.
yersity furnishes the second Of his notable
papers on physical training, entitled 1.-THE
Physical characteristics Of the Athlete"
The Rev. Henry NJ. Field, DID,, describes
visit to most interesting country in North.
ern Algeria, known as Grand Kabylia-the
Switzerland Of Africa. General Francis A.
Walker, President of the Massachusetts, In
stitute Of Technology, contributes vigorous,
plain spoken article, entitled "What Shall
we Tell the Working. classes" in which he
finds the solution of the labor problem in a
healthier, manlier more truly American
sentiment among working men, which can
only be fostered and spread by education.
These are the leading articles, which are
sand wiched between the usual allowance of
other special articles fiction, poetry, &c.
The November 81. Nicholas comes with its
usual long and interesting table of contents
and list of illustrations. 1t is welcomed as
heartily by the older heads rs by the young
folks. This particular number is specially
attractive in every way.